Fruits, vegetables and local food in schools. The EU Agriculture Commission has spoken out in favor of healthy eating. According to MEPs, the European Union must invest more to promote healthy eating and the consumption of local products among children and in school canteens.
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Fruit, vegetables e local food in schools. The EU Agriculture Commission has presented new food proposals for schools. According to MEPs, the European Union must invest more to promote healthy eating and the consumption of local products among children and school canteens.
A balanced diet, centered on local and seasonal produce, is described as the basis for maintaining good health. According to the Agriculture Commission, the consumption of fruit and vegetables would have dropped among European citizens, with negative consequences. Among the health foods whose European consumption has dropped is Agriculture Commission also inserts the XNUMX cups milk, which actually represents a much discussed product precisely from the point of view of well-being. Harvard nutritionists, for example, they have eliminated milk and dairy products from their guide to healthy eating.
The objective of the new rules proposed by the Agriculture Commission concerns both the foods that will actually be served in schools, and the need for better educate children about good and healthy eating habits. The amendments to the legislation proposed by the Agriculture Commission were accepted with 32 votes in favor, 6 against and 7 abstentions.
It is emphasized that consumption of fruit, vegetables and milk continues to drop across Europe. More than 20 million children are overweight as well adolescents consume on average only 30% to 50% of the recommended daily allowance of fruits and vegetables.
The Agriculture Commission therefore asks to:
1) Expand the list of food products eligible for EU funding including local dairy products such as yogurt, cheeses and dairy products (as long as they are not flavored and do not contain fruit, nuts or cocoa); these products are described as “with proven health benefits for children”.
2) Allocate 10% - 20% of EU funding that Member States receive for teaching activities at promoting healthy eating habits, with visits to farms and occasional distribution of local specialties such as processed fruit and vegetables (as long as they do not contain added sugars, fats, salt or sweeteners), honey, olives and dried fruit.
3) Allocate an additional 20 million euros per year for the measures concerning the XNUMX cups milk, bringing annual funding for milk and dairy products up to € 100 million, with € 150 million for fruit and vegetables.
4) Begin a more equitable distribution of European funds among member countries, establishing fundamental criteria for the entire scheme. For milk dedicated to children, a new annual contribution would be requested from the European Union.
The series of amendments to the bill approved by the Agriculture Commission should be examined by the Chamber during the plenary session on 27 May in Brussels.
The promotion of milk and dairy products in schools started in 1977, the fruit program was introduced in 2007. These new measures, with particular reference to the promotion of milk and dairy products, they really think about the health of children or represent mere economic maneuvers?
Marta Albè
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